One of the keys to success is being organized and staying organized. As a college student, I will admit, my organization plans can sometimes slip through my fingers. With everything there is to balance in our lives, staying organized can seem tricky, frustrating, and even useless; however, maintaining organization can lead to easier and calmer days. Having a plan in advance is key to making organization a part of your daily routine. It will help you stay productive and not waste time on unimportant tasks. Being organized is a lot easier than we think it is. Here are some ways to stay organized during school and positive reinforcement given by some current NYU students.
Keep a planner and use it!
It was always so hard for me to consistently use a planner because I would either forget to bring it with me or I would not refer back to it when I would use it. By always having my planner with me, whether I have it in my backpack or purse, I found that I am consistently using it more and more. Every time an assignment is given in class, or you are given an important date, write it in your planner right away so you do not forget a task or deadline. The first week of class, you should take your syllabi and write down your assignments, events, and important dates to remember. This will help you plan ahead. You can also use your planner to keep track of social events, too!
“How I stay organized throughout the semester is by keeping a planner. I write down everything in my planner from important school dates to just dates where I hang out with my friends. It helps me stay organized and aware of everything that is going on in my life. The method I found most useful to keep organized is putting my planner back in my book bag before I go to sleep. It’s easy for me to forget it in the morning while I’m rushing to get to class so putting it back in my bag at the end of the night is the most useful.”
-Betsy Giron, junior studying nursing
“I've always preferred writing things down to using technology, because it creates an extra wrinkle in the brain that helps you remember, so I always get a planner.”
-Jessica Salomon, senior studying arts administration and creative writing
"The organization I have to go through is pretty key because I lose my weekends a lot of the time because of track meets. I need to get a lot of my work done earlier in the week because of that. So I’ll try to focus on getting work done as soon as it’s assigned to free up time on the back end. I use a planner. I like to plan things out to know when I want to get certain things accomplished.”
-Rob DeSisto, junior studying political science
Write a to-do list every day or week.
Keeping a to-do list is the easiest way to keep track of when you accomplish and finish tasks you need to get done. Seeing everything you need to get done can help motivate you to finish exactly what you need to do. It can also feel very encouraging and relieving to cross things off the list as you finish them. I cannot wait to use this method this semester since I have such a busy schedule!
“I definitely find some satisfaction in checking things off of my lists, whether it be an assignment for class or doing laundry. At this point, I write almost everything down— I worry that I'll forget to do something otherwise. Sometimes, though, the length of my list can stress me out, but it also motivates me to get everything done.”
-Shira Tarlo, junior studying journalism
Put a whiteboard calendar in your room.
Keeping a whiteboard calendar is a creative and fun way to stay organized. They are awesome for room decor, too! I used this method my first semester of college; it was so fun to use different colored markers and write quotes to help motivate me! They are easy to use if something sporadically pops up in your schedule or if a certain event changes to a different date. By keeping a whiteboard in your room, you are looking at it multiple times a day, and this will help you remember what you have coming up that week or month.
“The most effective tool I use to stay organized is my dry erase calendar posted above my bed. I write every thing from payday, midterm dates, changes in my work schedule, to social events. I love doodling on it so it's also fun to play with.”
-Emily Figueroa, junior studying human rights and film
Everyone has a cell phone, so why not use it for organization?
A lot of students in today’s world have become more tech savvy, so there are even organization methods you can use on the computer and on your phone! On iPhones and other smartphones, there are reminders, notes, and apps that you can download to help maintain organization. You can even download a planner and to-do lists on your phone! College students always have their phones, so what better way to get reminders about things than by something that is always in our hand or pocket?
“I put calendar alerts on my phone that notify me a few days before an event occurs. Including social events encourages me to stay organized and write everything on my calendar because it reminds me of something to look forward to as well.”
-Emily Figueroa, junior studying human hights and film
“I use Google Calendar, since NYU provides us google emails it just works out really well. I add any events, exams, due dates, etc. to the calendar and I can customize how far in advance it will notify me. It also lets you put in a location, so I can go straight to maps and get directions.”
-Eric Beller, junior studying computer engineering
Prepare for your day the night before.
Mornings can be rough if you are not a morning person or if you stay up late. For extra sleep in the morning or time to actually eat breakfast, you can save time by preparing the night before. It is always a good idea to make sure all assignments, your planner, and any other things needed for class are in your backpack and ready to go. You can also have your outfit laid out, and any food/snacks prepared. By taking half an hour of your time to do this, you can have a less chaotic morning. By doing this, I noticed that I was not in such a rush, and I was in a better mood to go to class. I would not second guess if I forgot something because I knew it was all done the night before.
“I always hang up my jewelry. I get a cheap corkboard and some pushpins and I hang all of my braclets, necklaces, and big earrings. That way, stuff isn't tangled when I'm looking for it in the morning.”
-Jessica Salomon, senior studying arts administration and creative writing.
There are so many things to manage and keep track of between the first day of class and when you step out of your last final. Don't lose yourself in the middle of the semester because you let your organization plans slip through your mind. You are one step closer to success by finding a way to become and stay organized! Let organization be your motivation!
